Can-heading machine.



, @N mw i a Q sw N 7 4 .M 7 e I @AN km v MN M mm y u \N u. .vm 5% H V W 5- P. WEGNER. CAN READING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1908 Sum 11 f0 z attorney,

4 SHEETSSHBET 1.

Patented May 7, 1912.

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w hf N F. WEGNEE. CAN HBADI NG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 190B.

Patented May 7, 1912;

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P. WEGNER. CAN HEADING'M ACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 10, 1908.

Y Patnted May 31912..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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F. WEGNER.

CAN READING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1908.

Patented May 7,1912.

4 SHEETS-511E214;

animator UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

FRED WEGNER, 0F FAIRPORT, NEW YORK.

CAN-HEADING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that l, Fnnn WEGNER, of l airport,-in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Heading Machines; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

The present invention relates to can heading machines of the type in which the cans are fed automatically to a seaming mechanism and it has for an object to provide a construction which shall be inexpensive to mai'uifacl ure, simple in its operation, and so constructed that destruction of the cans cannot occur.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts of all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification In the drawings:-I igure 1 is a front view of a can heading machine embodying my present invention; Fig. 2 is a. side View of the same machine with parts shown in section; Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in plan showing the feeding mechanism in one position; Fig. 4 is a like view showing the feeding mechanism in another position; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a bottom View of portions of the.

feeding mechanism: Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing a retarding means for a can-stop device on the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail "iew of the operatingmeans for said stop device; Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section of the feeding mechanism; Fig. 10 is a like section showing the swinging feeding jaws that present the cans to the seaming mechanism; Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the feeding mechanism, parts being broken away to illustrate the dogs for preventing the re turn movement of the cans Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the feeding mechanism, illustrating the same dogs and the construction of the reciprocatory feeding d'ev e; and Fig. 13 is a section Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1912.

Application filed June 10, 1908. Serial No. 437,665.

view of a can before its head has been seamed thereon.

One of the present methods of canning fruits, vegetables and the like is to scam one of the can [heads directly to the body after the can has been filled, the can being of course presented to the seaming mechanism in an upright position to prevent the spilling of the. goods, and my present invention has been embodied in a'machine for operating on this type of cans; it being of course understood that it may be also embodied in any machine wherein the feeding of cans is desirable.

In the present embodiment the cans are rotated while being operated upon by a seaming mechanism which, in this instance, comprises a. pair of rollers l mounted on slides 2 that are moved away from the can by springs 8, and are moved toward the can by cam bars 4- swung on links 5 and operated by cams 6 on a cam shaft 8, the latter being dIlVG1l in any desirable manner.

The mechanism for rotating and holding the cans comprises a can rotating. member 9 and a rotary can support 10 arranged to turn about coincident and preferably vertical axes and one being movable toward the other. In the present instance the can rotating member 9 is carried by a. spindle 11 journaled on the frame 12 thatsup xn'ts the seaming'mechanism and this spindle may be driven by a belt 13 which after passing about pulleys 14 surrounds pulley 15 arranged on the'spindle.

The rotary can support 10 may be movable toward tl-e can rotating member and journaled on a vertically movable. support 16 that. is guided in bracket 17 on the frame 12. The lower end of the supoort may be provided with a roller 17 with which enga'gesa cam 1con a horizmital. shaft l9 jour naled in bearingsQO on frame 12, the cam being so formed that it elevates the vertically mov'able support 16 with the can support 10 a short time before the-seau'iing rollers 1 are moved toward the can, and" holds the rotary support in this 'lositidn until the seaming operation is completed. The cam shaft 19 may be driven from cam shaft 8 by a shaft 21. that has bevel gear connection with each of them.

The cans are fed automatically between the can rotatingmember and the rotary can support by a suitable feeding mechanism which preferably embodies a guide, supported by brackets 24 from frame 12, said guide comprising a supporting surface 22 and strips 23 or other means arranged above the surface on opposite sides thereof to overhang the heads on the lower end of the the guide, and preferably works between the strips 23 in a slot 25 formed in the bottom of the guide. The feeding device may: comprise a reciprocatory bar 26 guided in the slot and carrying a plurality of'dogs 27 yielding to pass the cans when the bar is moved in one direction and engaging the cans when the bar is moved in the other direction. Inthe present instance the bar is reduced at lntervals and the dogs are made of sheet metal bent to straddle the bar at the reduced portions, one end of each dog being pivoted at 28 and the other end being curved at 29 to conform to the outer wall of the can, the end of the curved portion being depressed to provide beveled portion 30, so that the dogs cannot engage within the rim at the bottom of the can.-

The feeding device maybe reciprocated in any suitablemanner but it is preferred to secure the bar to a slide 31 guided on the outer edges of the can guide and having a pitman 32 pivoted thereto at 33, the other end of the pitman being pivotally connected at 34 to a crank disk 35 that is carried on the upper end of a vertical shaft 36. Vertical shaft 36 is supported in bearings 37 and is geared to horizontal shaft 19 to re ceive motion therefrom.

In order to prevent the cans being fed too fast to the feeding device I employ stop deviceswhich project into the path of the cans and permit the feeding of only one after each complete reciprocation of the feeding device. 0110 of the devices s arrangcdm advance ofthe feeding device-and comprises a dog 38 which may be mounted on an oscillatory shaft 39 having an arm 40 extending therefrom and provided with a pin 41 that is engaged by an extension 42 on the feeding device, when the feeding device reaches each limit of its movement, thus causing the dog to swing to and from the path of the cans. A retarding device in the form of a shoe 39 moved in bracket 39* by a screw 39 holds the dog in either position. The other stop mechanism is arranged to engage each can after the latter has been moved to the path of the feeding device. This step mocha nism comprises two stops 42arranged on opposite sides of the can guide above the latter and prefer-ably 'in the form of horizontally swinging arms carried by rotary posts 43 which at their lower ends carry short arms 44 extending in opposite directionsandconnected by a link 45. The arms 42 are'normally held in stop positions by a spring 46, the link 45 serving to cause their simultaneous movement, and'a cam surface 47 on the crank disk '35 aco'tiperates with a long arm 48 on one of the posts 43 to move the arms 42 to a position permitting the movement of the can under the action of the feeding device, The arms 42 move from stop positions a short time prior to the feeding movement cf; the feeding device and move to stop position immediately after a can has passed them. Kn'order that the cans will die snugly 'againstthe stop 'I may provide two yielding stri s 49 secured at 50 at their outer ends "an converging toward their inner ends which are deflected at 51 to engage behind the cans after the latter have passed them.

After leaving the -last mentioned stop I mechanism, the cans successively pass a -series of return .stops on the guide to prevent the feeding device affecting the cans on its return movement. These return stops are in the form of dogs-52 arranged in pairs, the

members of each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the guides. 'The dogs are pivoted at- 53 beneath strips 23 and are pressed inwardly by springs 54, their inward movement being limited by shoulders 54fzwhich engage the outer edges of strips. The cans engage the inner edge of the dogs and move -'the latter outwardly out of the path of the former, on the forward movement of the feeding devices. The springs then move the dogs inwardly behind the cans.

While traveling along the guide the cans may pass beneath a yielding pressure device comprising a suitably supported plate 55 through which works a spring pressed presser bar 56. This pressure device serves to force the heads 0f the cans within the can bodies and hold them during the movement of the cans.

From the guide the cans are carried to the can rotating mechanism. This is effect ed by a feeding device preferably comprising a pair of can engaging jaws 57 mounted on opposite sides of the guide and movable toward and from the cans thereon. In this instance these jaws swing about yertiral axes and for this purpose are carried by arms 58 which are secured to posts 5!) turning on the slide 31, the lower ends of the posts being provided with arms (30 moved toward each other by a coil spring (ll. This spring causes the jaws to separate, and in llll) when the end of the feeding movement is movement of the order thatthey may be moved toward each other, I provide each arm with an upwardly extending pin or shoulder 62. These shoulders work throughslots 63 in slide '31 and each cotiperates with a pair of parallel guides 64 arranged on the bottom of the can guide and connected at one end by a fixed switch 65 and at its other end by a movable switch 66 pivoted at 67 and moved inwardly by a spring 68. As the jaws 57 with their operating parts are carried by the slide 31 and the guides 64 are carried by the can guide, it is apparent that the reciprocation of the slide causes the pins 62 to travel onv the guides 64, first on one and then on the other, the switches at the ends causing the shifting. This effects the movement of the jaws toward and from each other. The jaws move toward each other as the feeding bar begins the first part of the feeding movement, and are located slightly in advance of the last dog on the reciprocatory member so that when a can is engaged by the'jaws it will be moved away from the dog as shown in Fig. 4, thus preventing the engagement of the do with the bead on the bottom of the can, e ecting the release of the latter. The jaws release the can quickly reached this being effected by the spring acting on them. I

In order that the tops or heads of the cans will be in proper position when the can reaches the seaming mechanism I provide one of the jaws 57 with top positioning devices comprising two upwardly projecting fingers 69 which with a top positioning de vice 70 rigidly supported relatively to the feeding devices, causes the centering of the tops, the yielding pressure device causing them to enter the can bodies. The top positioning device 70 is preferably in the form of a flange or guide depending from the plate and having its forward end inclined at 70 in order to shift the tops during the feeding mechanism. Should the can top be displaced after it leaves the presser bar 56, it will, be again centered by a top positioning device 71- which is arranged in proximity to the can rotating mechanism, the arrangement of this positioning device being such that it is the same distance from the axis of the can rotating mechanism as the stops 69 when the jaws reach the end of their feeding move ment. I

It willnow be necessary general description of the operation of the machine as the operation of the several parts has been given. When the parts are m the position shown in Fig. 3, the reciprocating feeding member h s started on its feeding movement, the st ps42 have been moved out of the path of the cans and are about to move to stop position, the jaws 57 to give only a 'tion is simple,

are moving toward each other, and the stop 38 has been moved into the path of the can. As the end of the feeding movement is reached, stop 38 isdepressed to permit a can tov reach stop 42 and a can is presented to the seaming mechanism, the jaws moving to separate and release the can. On the return movement the stops 42 again move out of the path of the cans whilethe stop 38 moves into stop position. The seaming operation and the discharge of the finished can take place while the feeding mechanism is away from the seaming mechanism.

A. machine constructed in accordance with this invention is inexpensive to manufacture; its parts are constructed and arranged so that there is little liability that they will become broken or deranged; and the operanot requiring the attention of skilled labor.

I claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a can heading mechanisn'i, of a guide for directing the cans to the can heading mechanism having guiding surfaces formed on opposite edges thereof, a slide'opciating beneath the guide on the guiding surfaces, jaws carried by. the slide on opposite sides of the guide, mechanism for reciprocating the slide, and mechanism fors'winging the jaws toward each' other at one end of the ii-eci n-ocating movement and away from each other at the other end of the reciprocating movement.

2. The combination with a can heading mechanism, of a guide for directing the cans to the can heading mechanism, a slide guided on the can guide and movable beneath thelatter, swingingly mounted jaws arranged on the slide on opposite sides of the can guide, means arranged-"on the guide between the latter-and the slide for effecting the swinging of the jaws, and mecha nism for reciprocating the slide.

3. The combination with a canheading mechanism, of a can guide for directing the cans to the can heading mechanism. a slide guided on the can guide and movable beneath the latter, mechanism forrcciproeating the slide, jaws mounted to swing on vertical. axes on opposite sides of the can guide, and devices for effecting the swinging movementof the jaws, arranged be tween the slide and the can guide. I

4. The combination with a can heading mechanism, of a can guidefor directing the cans to the can heading mechanism, a slide guided below the can guide, mechanism for reciprocating the slide, a pair of vertical posts mounted to turn on the slide and arranged on opposite sides of the slide, can engaging arms carried by theupper ends of the posts, armson the lower ends of. the posts, springs act-ingon the last mentioned arms to move them toward each other, and devices arranged on the can guide between the latter and the slide for separating'the arms on the lower ends of the posts.

5. In a can heading machine, the combination with a' can heading mechanism, of a can guide for directing the cans to the can heading mechanism, a reciprocatory member having spring pressed dogs thereon, a can-engaging member carried by and of a can guide for directin cans to the can heading mechanism, a reclprocatory feeding device for engaging the cans on the guide, and a feeding device carried by the first named feeding device and comprising apair ofjaws arranged on opposite sides of the guide and carrying the cans from the first named feeding device to the can heading mechanism. Y

7. In a can heading machine, the combination with a can heading mechanism and a support for the can during the heading operation, of a can guide for directing the cans to the support, a reciprocatory feeding device having a plurality of spring pressed dogs working through the can guide to engage the cans on the can guide, and a air of jaws carried by the reciprocatory ceding device carrying the cans from the said reeiprocatory feeding device to the can support.

8. The combination with a can guide for supporting cans in an upright position, of a feeding member operating beneath the cans on the guide and carrying a plurality of movable dogs each having a curved engaging portion and inclined portions on the upper surfaces thereof and at opposite ends of the. curved portion, and resilient means for pressing said dogs upwardly to engage cans on the guide. a

9. In a can heading machine, the combination with a can heading mechanism, of a can guide for directing the can in upright positions to the can heading mechanism, a reciprocatory feeding device for moving the cans on the guide embodying a plurality of dogs coiiperatiug with the cans near their supported ends, and a feeding device carried by the'first' named feeding device for carrying cans to the can heading mechanism and arranged to shift a can from its dog so that the latter will not engage a bead on the lower end of the can.

l0. The combination with a can guide, of a stop for preventing the movement of the cans on the guide in feeding direction, a reciprocatory feeding 'device'moving the cans from the position at which they are held by the stop, and mechanism for moving said stop into the pathof the cans as the reciprocatory feeding device reaches one limit of its movement in feeding direction and out of the path of the cans as the feeding device reaches the other limit of its movement.

11. The combination with a guide, of a pair of swinging stops arranged on opposite sides of the guide and movable into and out of the path of articles on the guide, a feed-.'

ing device having a dog removing articles from the position at which they are held by the stops, and mechanism for moving said stops to permit the articles to pass them on the feeding movement of the feeding device.

12. The combination with a can guide and a reciprocatory feeding device for moving cans'thereon, of'a pair of stops arranged on opposite sides of the guide to cooperate with the cans on the guide, a -rota-ry cam for operating the stops, and a pit-man connecting the cam and the feeding device.

13. The combination with a can guide, of a reciprocatory feeding device having dogs for moving the cans on the guide, a pair of swinging stops to cooperate with the cans on the guide, a spring moving said stops to on position, a cam for moving said stops to another position, and a pit-man connecting the cam'and the feeding device.

14. The combination with a can guide, of a reciprocatory feeding device operating longitudinally of and at the bottom of the guide for moving cans on the latter, and stops arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the guide and movable inwardly and outwardly over the guide to coiiperate with the cans operated upon by the feeding device.

15. The combination with a can guide, of mechanism for feeding cans thereon embodying reciprocatory can engaging jaws also In( able toward the can on the guide, one of said jaw"; having cantop posit-ioning means thereon, and a fixed can top positioning device extending longitudinally of the guide on thatside of the latter opposite the movable jaw to cooperate with the tops of the cans during the movement of the latter.

16. The combination with a can guide, of mechanism for feeding cans thereon embodying reciprocatory can engaging jaws movable toward a can on the guide, one of said jaws having can top positioning means thereon, and a fixed can top positioning de vice extending longitudinally of the guide on that side of the latter opposite the movable jaw carrying the top positioning means to cooperate with the tops of the cans during the movementof the latter, said fixed top positioning device having its.receiving end inclined.

17. The combination with a seaming mechanism, of a guide for directing cans thereto of a fixed can top positioning device arranged in proximity to the seaming mechanism, and mechanism for moving the cans on the guide to the seaming mecha- I ing mechanism.

I FRED WEGNER. Witnesses! GEO. G. MULLINER,

EDWARD R. BROWN.

5 nism, including a jaw carrying a can top positioning device cooperating with the first named top positioning device to position a can top as a can is presented to the seam- 

